Best Dispersed Camping near Paicines, CA

This was one of the most beautiful backpacking hikes I've ever done, but also one of the more challenging ones to do in one day.

• 11.1 miles from trail head to the summit
• 5,600 ft. in elevation gain
• Took 7.5 hours total (4.5 hours moving time)
• Limited water on trail.  Saw some springs during the first half but none within miles of the top

Camping at the top was spectacular.  The sunset was one of the best I have ever seen.  There is an old outpost at the top that someone else was sleeping at to provide shelter for the wind (it was pretty vicious).  The hike down was much, much easier.

Obviously this is back country camping, so

• No water supply
• Pack in Pack out
• Limited to no cell service

Easy overnight BLM spot, we stayed overnight on the way to San Jose - easy to navigate, find & park.

Close by amenities gas stations, mcdonald’s & freeway about 10 mins out

This is a trail camp in the Ventana Wilderness along the Carmel River Trail.  The trailhead and parking lot is at the Los Padres Dam.  The trail is pretty easy to follow, but crosses the river/creek extremely frequently.  I had to cross the river about 50 times in a weekend in an out & back trip.

This is backcountry backpacking, so:

• So potable water - bring a filter

• Pack in pack out trash

• Fires may be restricted

• No restrooms or other facilities

• Lots of poison oak

• Trail may be impassable at some points

I got in Friday afternoon so could only hike a few miles before dark.  The Bluff camp was the first real trail camp along the trail, but there are several more further on

Here is the trail info:

http://www.ventanawild.org/trails/ventana-wilderness-trails/carmel-river-trail

Here is an interactive Map: http://bigsurtrailmap.net/interactivemap.html?latlon=36.0898,-121.5651&zoom=11&bkgmap=USGS+Quad+%2BWilderness&mode=trailmap&control=0

Private property, you can't even go through the road

First, knowing nothing about this area of CA I looked for a spot to set up for a few to dry out, we'd just dropped out of Shasta Mt b4 heavy winter storms. Arrived late afternoon to set up. Problem is the ground is covered, literally, with all the casings, glass, human trash everywhere 😮‍💨 🙏 please, always pack out a bit more than you've created in an area. These pics are the cleanest spot I could find. 😪